Contents1 From the Executive Vice President

2 Customer Compliments

3 Making Columbia Green

4 In the Community

6 Public Safety News

7 Welcome and Congratulations

8 Employee Profile Question of the Month

happy holidays!

You may have noticed that this issue of Off the CUF is only eight pages (reduced from the standard 12) and is being distributed by e-mail only (you can also find a copy on the Facilities Web site or by contacting your supervisor). As we have discussed during our recent meetings together, the fiscal challenges of the current economic climate affect us all and every dollar counts. Moving our publication to an online format is just one small way to help. Other efforts to minimize costs and become “greener” include our work

on Knox Hall (page 3). Soon to be the home of the University’s Departments of Sociology and other Arts & Sciences Institutes and Centers, Knox Hall’s renovations include the utilization of four 2,000-foot deep geothermal wells which will create a projected energy savings of 50-60%.

This issue also focuses on CUF’s continuing commitment to serving our local community. In September, we teamed with Bovis Lend Lease, the lead construction management firm for the initial phase of our Manhattanville development, to host their 13th annual Community Day (page 4), during which employees worked in shifts to help beautify the Riverside Valley Community Garden. This partnership helps enable the garden to continue to flourish and provide free fruits and vegetables to the community. In October, we hosted our first ever West Harlem Career Expo (page 5) in partnership with the West Harlem Local Development Corporation and Community Board 9. Over 100 residents from the community attended the expo, which offered workshops on applying for jobs at Columbia, access to building and construction trades, and workforce readiness skills.

In addition to our collective efforts, individual Facilities team members deserve recognition for their achievements. Jim Verdicchio, Public Safety’s assistant director of investigations and technology projects, was the recipient of the New York City Police Department’s Chief of Detectives Award (page 6), an honor rarely given to a civilian outside of the police department. Jim helped identify the suspects responsible for the death of a Columbia University student.

While Jim helps safeguard our campus, 547 Riverside Drive Superintendent Loretta Zuk helps to ensure that it feels like home to its residents (page 8). Her love of her work propelled her to take classes in her field and ultimately led to her recent accreditation as a New York Realty Manager.

As evident by the customer compliments on page 2, our organization continues to accomplish remarkable things. As we continue to tighten our belts and look for more ways to increase efficiency, it will take our renewed commitment, individually and enterprise-wide to improve the client experience and demonstrate leadership. Remember: If you touch it, make it better.

Thank you for your commitment to our organization, and most importantly, may you and your family have a happy and healthy new year!

Joe Ienuso

News for the Employees of Columbia University FacilitiesVOLUME 7 | WINTER 2009

From the Executive Vice President

thank you.

Customer Compliments

Dear [Matthew Early and Fred Small],

We had a window almost fall out (the frame was badly deteriorated—room 704) this afternoon and the response from Facilities was absolutely terrific. The gentleman at the call center was professional and got me immediate results. Bob Bullock came over and he was also terrific. I really appreciate the timely and courteous help. Well done!!!

Stacey Quartaro Academic Department AdministratorPhilosophy Department

Dear Don [Schlosser],

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to thank you for all of your hard work at Baker Athletics Complex. Everything on Saturday looked great. In the four years that I have been here, it has never looked better.Thanks again!

Dianne MurphyDirector of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical EducationColumbia University Athletics

Dear Ed [Lauth] and Mike [Azzopardi],

Last night there was an artist’s reception held in Reality House for the new art gallery and the event would not have been nearly as successful or seamless without Ford’s [Eufimio] help, along with the other security guard on duty last night. Ford went above and beyond in providing his assistance and was instrumental in making sure everything went smoothly. He did an amazing job.

Katiana AngladeDirector of Manhattanville Development Projects Columbia University Facilities

Dear [Ermelina Pennil and Joshua Morrison],

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your assistance with this event (Trustees Tour). I understand the time and efforts put forth to ensure that our buildings are kept in the best condition possible and today was no exception.

I wanted to say Thank You to everyone for a great job on ensuring that we were at our best for today’s tour. We received compliments from both our residents and the Trustees on tour. It is really great to work with a team of people who are so dedicated to excellence!

José A. RosaDirector, Operations & Customer ServiceColumbia University Housing and Dining

Dear [Cathy] Ryder,

I am a resident of Laureate Hall, located at 435 West 119th Street. I wanted to inform you of the excellent service that our superintendent, Hector Gorritz, and our handyman, David Salnave, have rendered. On September 16, our drainpipe ruptured, requiring a substantial amount of work on the bathroom. On the same day, my wife gave birth to our daughter Olive.

Knowing that we needed to return to our apartment as soon as possible, Hector and David did everything in their power to speed the work along. They also made sure we were in comfortable accommodations in the meantime. Because of the large amount of dust that was in the air from the construction, Hector had the house vacuumed and cleaned and he also called in the lead inspector. This meant a lot to me and my wife, as the health of our daughter is very important to us.

Since the day we moved into this building, Hector and David have taken very good care of us and our apartment. They are always attentive to our requests and unwaveringly friendly.

Michael Willes435 West 119th Street

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Making Columbia GreenKnox Hall to Utilize Geothermal WellsEnvironmentally Clean Energy

Knox Hall, located at Columbia affiliate Union Theological Seminary on 122nd Street and Broadway, will soon be the new home of Columbia University's Departments of Sociology and other institutions, where it will provide spaces for interdisciplinary thinking. While construction has already begun on the building’s interior, the hallmark of Knox’s renovations is its utilization of four 2,000-foot deep geothermal wells.

Knox’s geothermal wells, each eight inches in diameter, will provide heating and cooling by drawing ground water from the earth. This water is circulated through the building’s mechanical equipment to cool the heat they generate. The heated water is then returned to the ground and its absorbed heat is dissipated into the surrounding bedrock. The wells eliminate the less efficient chillers associated with more traditional systems.

“By coupling the building’s mechanical systems with earth’s natural resources, the geothermal wells at Knox Hall will allow for the installation of a sustainable system design which will benefit not only the University but the community as a whole,” said Frances Huppert, associate vice president of capital project management.

By using this “greener” system, the University is projecting an energy savings of 50% - 60%. Additionally, since the wells do not require any unsightly mechanical equipment on Knox’s roof or façade, the University will be able to respect the building’s historical nature and existing architecture.

In addition to the geothermal wells, Columbia University Facilities is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for Knox Hall. LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. Knox joins the new Interdisciplinary Science Building, the renovation of McVickar Hall for the new Columbia Alumni Center, the new geochemistry building at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and the renovation of Faculty House as Columbia buildings currently pursuing LEED certification.

Completion of Knox Hall’s renovations is projected for fall 2009.

Knox Hall at Union Theological Seminary

Open well head of a standing column well at Harvard University. Courtesy: Harvard University

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In the Community

Bovis Lend Lease and Columbia University Help Improve an Upper Manhattan TreasureRiverside Valley Community Garden was given a helping hand on Thursday, Sept. 25, when Bovis Lend Lease, in collaboration with Columbia University, held their 13th annual Community Day. More than 60 employees from Bovis Lend Lease—a global management construction company—and Columbia University converged on Riverside Drive and 135th Street just north of Columbia's proposed Manhattanville campus and worked in shifts to help beautify the garden by replacing damaged fencing, painting benches, changing mulch and patching up the asphalt jogging path. With their help, the garden can continue to flourish and provide free fruits and vegetables to the community.

"Collaborating on a joint Community Day effort with our client, Columbia University, at the Riverside Valley Community Garden is a natural fit. Both organizations are committed to giving back to the communities we work in, and I couldn't think of a better way to show it," said Ralph Esposito, senior vice president of Bovis Lend Lease. By providing construction knowledge to help build and improve gardens and other shared community facilities, Lend Lease's initiatives benefit socially and economically deprived groups, aged citizens, children, the homeless and people with disabilities.

Riverside Valley Community Garden is located in West Harlem at 138th Street and 12th Avenue and is responsible for maintaining a 15-block stretch of Riverside Park from 135th Street to 150th Street. The Community Garden was founded by long-time local resident Jenny Benítez and a group of neighbors 22 years ago. At that time, the neighborhood, particularly at 138th Street and 12th Avenue, was a shanty

town for homeless drug addicts and dealers, as well as a garbage dump for used hypodermic needles, broken glass and abandoned cars. Mrs. Benítez and local residents set aside a plot of land at 138th Street and Riverside Drive to plant a wide variety of vegetables and fruit-bearing trees and distribute their harvest each year to people who pass through its gates. With their help, along with major support from the Riverside Park Fund,

Riverside Park has been transformed into a series of lovely floral gardens throughout the 15-block stretch of park land.

Jenny Benítez, 75, and her husband, Victor, 78, have lived on Riverside Drive since 1964. They raised their four children in this West Harlem community and have worked within Community Board 9 for more than 50 years—Jenny for the Board of Education in District 6 and Victor as a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus driver. They currently spend six hours a day, seven days a week working at the community garden."When Bovis approached us about their Community Day, the Community Garden immediately came to mind. The garden has been an incredible asset for the community, and it gives us great pleasure to help them with their cause. This partnership supports our commitment to community service and the enhancement of our neighborhood," said Joe Ienuso, executive vice president, Columbia University Facilities.

"Our children and families in this community need this garden, and Bovis and Columbia have given it a great makeover," Benítez said. "My words cannot fully express how I feel. Twenty-two years ago, there were needles, abandoned cars and loads of trash in this space. Today, we are all working together to help each other make this neighborhood someplace we can be proud of—getting new fences, painting the benches and preparing this garden for next year's harvest. None of this would have been possible without their help."

Community Garden founder Jenny Benítez and her husband, Victor

In the Community

Career Expo Gives West Harlem Residents Important InformationLocal Government, Community Groups and Columbia University Partner to Create Job Opportunities for the West Harlem Community

Over 100 residents from the community and beyond attended the first ever West Harlem Career Expo on Saturday, October 25th at Our Children's Foundation on West 125th Street. Co-sponsored by the West Harlem Local Development Corporation, Community Board 9 and Columbia University, the event offered workshops on applying for jobs at Columbia, access to building and construction trades and workforce readiness skills. After welcoming remarks by Congressman Charles Rangel, Assemblyman Keith Wright and Councilman Robert Jackson, residents also had the opportunity to connect with representatives from job preparedness organizations, community groups and the construction industry.

"What we hope to achieve is to raise the awareness of community members about the variety of jobs within the construction industry and across the city," said Joe Ienuso, executive vice president of Columbia University Facilities.

Three different workshops, conducted twice to allow for maximum participation, provided participants with information regarding various career opportunities and actions steps needed to prepare for those opportunities:

The Jobs at Columbia workshop offered attendees instructions and tips on applying for jobs at the University, from working with the Employment Information Center on Broadway at 125th Street to searching and applying for open positions. Facilities human resources representatives were on hand to answer questions and discuss current job openings, which include positions in project management, plant engineering and utilities, custodial services, and campus operations.

The workshop on Access to Building and Construction Trades featured information on apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs for trade union positions. Panelists included Jim Dorvil, program manager for the Edward J. Malloy Institute for Construction Skills, which prepares New

Workshop attendees learn how to apply for jobs at Columbia

York City public high school students and adults for careers in the building and construction trades, Amy Peterson, president of Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), an organization that helps provide opportunities for women in non-traditional jobs in the building and construction trades, utilities and transportation industries and facilities maintenance and repair, and Joe Ienuso, the executive vice president for Columbia University Facilities, who explained how Columbia works with construction firms to meet its hiring goals.

"It is so great seeing so many women interested in what we have to offer," said Peterson. "We have really had success in training women in construction and other blue-collar industries."

Bovis Lend Lease, Turner and Structure Tone as well as other construction-related organizations staffed tables at the Expo to provide information and answer questions.

The Workforce Readiness workshop focused on career development tools such as resume writing and application and interview tips. The Expo complimented the workshop with tables manned by job preparedness organizations such as Dress for Success, Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, and Strive.

The West Harlem Career Expo comes on the heels of other Facilities' efforts to inform and support members of the community in their career aspirations. This summer, area college students gained hands-on experience in architecture and related fields through an internship program with the Manhattanville Development group. This fall, as a result of a partnership with the ACE Mentor Program, approximately 25 students from area high schools will work with Manhattanville Development mentors to learn about architecture, engineering and construction.

"This is a new phase we are in," said La-Verna Fountain, associate vice president for construction business services and communications. "We will continue to seek new ways to respond to community needs so that we can grow together and learn together."

Congressman Charles Rangel welcomes participants

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Public Safety News

Public Safety Assistant Director Receives Prestigious Chief of Detectives AwardOn Thursday, October 16th, Jim Verdicchio (pictured right), assistant director of Investigations and Technology Projects for the Department of Public Safety, was presented with the Chief of Detectives Award by the New York City Police Department for his work in identifying the suspects responsible for the death of a Columbia University student in April 2008.

On April 4th, Graduate Schools of Arts and Sciences student Minghui Yu was tragically killed by a passing car at the intersection of West 122nd Street and Broadway as he fled assault. During the course of the investigation, Verdicchio obtained a photo of what would turn out to be the defendant in the case. His work helped the NYPD arrest the suspect within 48 hours of the crime.

"I am thrilled that Jim Verdicchio received this prestigious award," said Jim McShane, vice president for Public Safety. "It is a fitting tribute to all of his efforts in support of the entire Columbia Community. We are very appreciative of Jimmy and the work he does!"

Verdicchio's accomplishment is all the more impressive since the Chief of Detectives Award, one of the NYPD's highest honors, is rarely given to a civilian outside of the Police Department.

Jim Verdicchio receiving the Chief of Detectives Award, one of the NYPD's highest honors.

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Welcome and Congratulations! (September 2008 - November 2008)

NEW FACES AT FACILITIES

Rowland AlamoHeavy CleanerCampus Operations

Patrick AlexanderHeavy CleanerCampus Operations

Clinton AllenSecurity OfficerPublic Safety - Morningside

Tony BrownSecurity OfficerPublic Safety - Morningside

Iris CalderonCoordinatorFacilities Services Center

Alain CalvezManagerPlant Engineering & Utilities

Julio ChevalierDoor Attendant CResidential Operations

Angel ColonPorter CResidential Operations

Amin CruzPorter AResidential Operations

Eric DiazSecurity OfficerPublic Safety - Morningside

Anthony FergusonSergeantPublic Safety - CUMC

Joseph FeyjooSergeantPublic Safety - Morningside

Daniel ForlenzaAssociate DirectorCapital Project Management

Hector GarciaSecurity OfficerPublic Safety - Morningside

John GerrishDirector of Administration and PlanningPublic Safety - Morningside

Frank GiannelliSenior Project ManagerManhattanville Development

Douglas GreeneWorking SuperintendentResidential Operations

Karamchand HadaiMechanic - HVACCampus Operations

Omar HernandezSecurity OfficerPublic Safety - Morningside

Hector JaramilloPorter CResidential Operations

Guillermo JeredaAccounting ClerkFinance & Administration

Sung Won KimProject Manager, Exterior & Historic PreservationCapital Project Management

Lodric KnightsHeavy CleanerCampus Operations

Denis KoreResident ManagerResidential Operations

Tyrone LatchmanMechanicCampus Operations

Donald LattimoreSergeantPublic Safety - Morningside

Leighton LeeHeavy CleanerCampus Operations

James Otalora SugasteSenior Project ManagerManhattanville Development

Ira PinkusProject ManagerCapital Project Management

William Roche Jr.Porter CResidential Operations

Mamadee SackoHeavy CleanerCampus Operations

James WagnerSecurity OfficerPublic Safety - Morningside

NEW ROLES AT FACILITIES

Daniel AliceaBuilding SuperintendentResidential Operations

Matthew EarlyVice PresidentOperations

David GreenbergVice President Finance & Administration

Sheena JonesProject CoordinatorConstruction Business Services & Communications

Robert KishunECT MechanicResidential Operations

Italia MancinelliCoordinatorResidential Operations

James McShaneVice PresidentPublic Safety

SILVER SERVICE ANNIVERSARIESCongratulations to the following on their 25th anniversary at Columbia!

Ronald BrownMechanic APlant Engineering & Utilities

Danielle Maxwell CartwrightSecurity OfficerPublic Safety – Morningside

Robert HernandezInstrument Control TechnicianPlant Engineering & Utilities

Edwin MaldonadoWorking SuperintendentResidential Operations

Juan PerezAssistant Instrument Control TechnicianPlant Engineering & Utilities

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25thAnniversary

The Back Page

Employee Spotlight – Loretta Zukby Josh Weiss, Communications Intern

As the building superintendent for over fifteen years, Loretta Zuk has helped make 547 Riverside Drive feel like home to its residents, often going above and beyond to create a community within the building.

“I truly enjoy making people feel comfortable,” said Loretta. “Our residents become part of a family; it’s a home and not just a place to live.” A fine arts major in college, Loretta

eventually switched tracks and completed a one-year superintendent program. After starting at Columbia as a handyperson, she worked her way up to superintendent quickly.

“It’s a career, not just a job,” Loretta remarked about being a superintendent. “It becomes a career because I care about it.”

Continuing her original passions from college, Loretta is also an artist in her spare time. She mostly paints abstract acrylics, and she is currently working on an abstract series called “Vibrations.”

Loretta has also strived to continue her education to build and skills for her job. After completing over 20 courses in fields ranging from building management to ethics, she recently attained the status of “New York Accredited Realty Manager” from the Thomas Shortman Training Program. She initially took classes because she enjoyed them, and was surprised when she found out that she was eligible for accreditation.

“Accreditation really gratified all of my hard work,” Loretta said. “The courses have really helped me stay one step ahead in many fields, ranging from computers to locksmithing.”

Her favorite courses, though, were in the field of building management, since, as she says, “supers have become real managers today.”

Coming from a small Irish Catholic community in Brooklyn, Loretta was skeptical that she could find a comfortable community when she first moved to Manhattan. But, she says, she has grown to love Morningside Heights.

“I feel truly blessed,” said Loretta. “My health is great, Columbia has been very good to me, and my union afforded me the opportunity to keep up with changes in my career.”

Question of the MonthWhat are you doing for the holidays??

Mel Gionson“ Eating and sleeping. I am the Christmas sloth.”

Senior Administrative CoordinatorOffice of the Executive Vice President

Sorayda Jermyn“ Spending time with my family in our new house in West Orange, New Jersey.”

Administrative AssistantResidential Operations

Eddie Ortiz“ I’m off from work and spending the holidays with my family.”

Truckdriver BCampus Operations

HAPPY HOLIDAYSJanuary 1 and January 2: University HolidaysJanuary 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

This newsletter is printed on 100% recycled paper. Please recycle.

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